Training Log Archive: Kitch

Event: 3 Peaks CX
 

3 Peaks Cyclocross
what can I say ? Awesome.

This has been my goal since submitting an entry on 1st of June.
I started specific training mid June and was committed even though I didn't actually get a place in the race until the beginning of August.
I got a new Cross bike
I started running properly again. Up hills
I prepared as best I could: physical training; learning as much as I could about the race and its challenges; technical bike skills on fast and rough descents; getting the new bike absolutely set up right.
All of which investment leads, ironically, to a great deal of nervousness when in theory it should give confidence. That would be true if it weren't the first try at this unique and iconic race. A race in which so many things can so easily go wrong, punctures; mechanicals; falls; injuries; cramp (a ghost that often haunts the riders). And, if it does go wrong then all that investment is down the pan until next year - assuming you get a place in the race ....
So - nervous in the run up - not good sleep in the run up - partly nerves, partly eating large amount of food. Though on Saturday night I was able to completely avoid spinning thoughts of the race and what might go wrong from whirring through my head all night - I got the obligatory "missing the start " nightmare out of my system a couple of week back, so that was good preparation.
I did get nervous on Sunday - in fact I'd say more nervous than anything since a World Champs Relay - (which means very, very, very , very)
I got to the registration and simply got on with the mechanics of registering, getting kit on, loo, pumping up tyres to chosen pressure ( oh, the topic of tyre pressure - you wouldn't believe the debate and angst). Off for a warm up and finally line up as far forward as possible. I think I managed row 4 out of many... 650 riders, probably 10 across the road, equals 65 rows I guess.
Take off spare clothes and chuck my bag across to a very obliging marshall to stow somewhere safe. A rush of nerves and revert to experience to simply put a lid on it and keep calm.
Ready to go
You hear rumours about lots of crashes on the first road section in the tight bunch because so many folk are not used to bunch riding. It was fast and furious and there were one or two dodgy moves, though they were mitigated by the fact that Cyclocross riders have good bike handling skills. I sat at the back of the lead bunch and kept safe.
Once you are on the hills its just about how hard you can work on the ascents, which involve carrying the bike for 20 odd minutes, and how fast you can take the descents without crashing or puncturing. The descents are all on paths but they differ - off Ingleborough is mostly grassy path but with lots of boggy bits to trap your wheel and throw you over the bars. Whernside is gravel path but strewn with stones, its puncture-tastic. Pen y Ghent fast gravelly and stony with stone drainage channels so again plenty of puncture potential.
The course was very wet this year with times well down as a result.
I went ok up Ingleborough, worked hard all the way. On Simon Fell, Marky Hayman came by with a cheery shout and we tussled all the way to Ingleborough summit. Good descent with no drama, Marky was a bit quicker.
On the road section to Whernside I wasn't placed to get in a working group so was a wee bit slow. Whernside climb again good but hard work - tiny hints of cramp in the calves, though not so bad as Marky whom I caught and passed. I had one innocuous fall, over the bars, on the descent, but most important - no punctures.
I got in a good group on the road to Horton, moving fast but a bit of rest time too. I took the final climb up Pen y Ghent steady since cramp was a potential issue in my quads, I managed the problem and got to the summit without succumbing - it was hard work. I reached the summit in 3hrs 32. I knew that from here a good descent time is 20 minutes and 25 should be a really safe and steady so I took the decision to bank a sub 4 hour finish, not to push it and get home safe: no crashes, no punctures. Its was a good choice because I had my only equipment problem during the descent. On the climb I had lost a cleat bolt so couldn't get my left foot clipped in and on a fast bumpy, stony descent that really is not good - when your foot gts bounced off a pedal then there is a loss of balance and control and a few choice words. Anyhoo, like I said - I chose to not take any chances made the descent in 24 minutes and finished in 3:56.
Sub 4 is a thing in the 3-Peaks so happy to have achieved that on the first attempt and on a day where times were slow.
I was 106th overall and 6th V50

C • Great! 4

last ride before Sunday
up to hill end and made the effort up the gravel path to the ski centre, 3:30 of cycling, then running up skyline path for 3 mins.
Then cut back to a walk up to the fence and rode down the ridge to the bottom car park.
feeling good - VAM 1115

home via Roseburn to watch Sam running schools cross country

laps of the Seat
2 x 4 min threshold effort on the climb, plus some bits riding dwon the hill against the brakes.